Basic Life Support (BLS) procedures include life-saving techniques such as CPR, rescue breathing, and automatic external defibrillators. Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) is an extension of this training that is offered to healthcare professionals. These professionals include physicians, respiratory therapists, pharmacists, physician assistants, dentists, nurses, and paramedics. There are many more interventions that can be performed by those with an ACLS certification.
Basic Life Support
Those wishing to obtain this certification will have to show competence in basic life saving techniques. These include CPR, the Heimlich maneuver, and other first aid strategies. Most of the certification course will be focused on more advanced techniques, however. But a candidate must show the ability to perform these basic skills as well.
Intubation
Intubation is the insertion of a flexible tube into the body. Generally, however, in an emergency situation the tube needs to be inserted into the trachea to allow the patient to breathe. A laryngoscope, if available, is used to open the jaw so that the patient’s throat can be seen clearly. This prevents the tube from going down the esophagus instead and causing other problems. Once the tube is inserted into the throat it can be hooked to a ventilator or bag valve mask so that the patient can breathe.
Electrocardiograms
In BLS, an automatic external defibrillator determines how and when to shock a patient. An important part of ACLS, however, is the ability to read and interpret an electrocardiogram. This allows the emergency responder to decide when and how to shock the patient by monitoring the rhythms and vital signs. This is an important skill because the timing can be crucial.
Intravenous Medications
Another skill covered in ACLS certification is the administration of intravenous (IV) lines and medications. Epinephrine and amiodarone are commonly used drugs because they can treat cardiac arrest, superficial bleeding, and anaphylaxis. Other medications may be needed to treat drug overdoses or reactions to medications. The goal of ACLS is to not only treat the patient, but to determine what the underlying problem is so that the patient can be treated properly now and in the future.
Basic Life Support
Those wishing to obtain this certification will have to show competence in basic life saving techniques. These include CPR, the Heimlich maneuver, and other first aid strategies. Most of the certification course will be focused on more advanced techniques, however. But a candidate must show the ability to perform these basic skills as well.
Intubation
Intubation is the insertion of a flexible tube into the body. Generally, however, in an emergency situation the tube needs to be inserted into the trachea to allow the patient to breathe. A laryngoscope, if available, is used to open the jaw so that the patient’s throat can be seen clearly. This prevents the tube from going down the esophagus instead and causing other problems. Once the tube is inserted into the throat it can be hooked to a ventilator or bag valve mask so that the patient can breathe.
Electrocardiograms
In BLS, an automatic external defibrillator determines how and when to shock a patient. An important part of ACLS, however, is the ability to read and interpret an electrocardiogram. This allows the emergency responder to decide when and how to shock the patient by monitoring the rhythms and vital signs. This is an important skill because the timing can be crucial.
Intravenous Medications
Another skill covered in ACLS certification is the administration of intravenous (IV) lines and medications. Epinephrine and amiodarone are commonly used drugs because they can treat cardiac arrest, superficial bleeding, and anaphylaxis. Other medications may be needed to treat drug overdoses or reactions to medications. The goal of ACLS is to not only treat the patient, but to determine what the underlying problem is so that the patient can be treated properly now and in the future.
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